NBA: Doc Rivers will be more than just coach for LA Clippers

With his contract to become the Clippers' next head coach having been given the seal of approval from the NBA, the club will introduce Doc Rivers at a press conference this morning in Playa Vista.

Rivers' title officially will be senior vice president of basketball operations and head coach, the Clippers announced Tuesday.

The drawn-out process to lure Rivers to L.A. started during trade talks with the Boston Celtics, who eventually worked out an agreement to buy out the final three years and $21 million left on his contract, which are the same terms he agreed with to coach the Clippers.

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"It was just time," Rivers told ESPN Boston on Tuesday. "I really don't think it would be fair to get into all of that right now. I made a decision to talk with all of the Boston media following my press conference with the Clippers, and I will honor that.

"I'll explain it to everyone then. But to say I was dying to get out of Boston, dying to leave the Celtics is just wrong. That's not how it was.

"That's not how I felt."

Rivers' new job title places him above vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks, which means the new coach will have a lot to say in how the club shapes up.

Reports, however, said provisions of the deal with Boston preclude trades between the Celtics and Clippers until after the 2013-14 season. Even if Kevin Garnett waived his no-trade clause, he could not be dealt to the Clippers.

But if the Celtics bought out Garnett's contract, that could start another soap opera the NBA would have to deal with.

The Clippers will send the Celtics their 2015 first-round pick as compensation for signing Rivers.

His first order of business will be Thursday's draft. The Clippers hold the No. 25 spot and must address depth at center to complement DeAndre Jordan and perimeter defense. They might even be in the market for a backup point guard if they are seeking to deal away Eric Bledsoe, one of the Clippers' key bargaining chips in reported trade talks.

Rivers, 51, was 416-305 in nine seasons with the Celtics, who won the 2008 NBA crown and reached the 2010 Finals. Rivers, who played for the Clippers in 1991-92, will be the 16th coach in club history. He replaces Vinny Del Negro, who was told by the club he would not be rehired with his contract running out.

Del Negro guided the Clippers to their best season in 2012-13. They won 56 games and the Pacific Division title before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.